Consider the following statements about the types of drought in India : 1. A meteorological drought occurs when the mean annual rainfall is less than 75%. 2. Agricultural drought arises out of extreme moisture stress. 3. Soil moisture drought is related to meteorological drought. Which of the statements given above are correct ?

According to IMD, a meteorological drought is declared when the seasonal/annual rainfall is less than 75% of its long-term average — statement 1 is correct. Agricultural drought occurs when soil moisture and rainfall are inadequate to support healthy crop growth, i.e., it results from extreme moisture stress during the crop cycle — statement 2 is correct. Soil moisture drought (a form of agricultural drought) follows from a prolonged meteorological deficit; sustained rainfall shortage depletes soil moisture, so it is directly related to meteorological drought — statement 3 is correct. Hence all three statements are correct.